The B-segment has grown competitive, with more and more brands introducing their offerings and adding their own twist to the bottom line: affordable and economical. The Suzuki Dzire (formerly Swift Dzire) is leaps and bounds better than its predecessor. Not only is it better in the looks department, you’ll know it’s better when you get behind the wheel. Here are five reasons why we like the Dzire GL+. Looks Unlike its predecessor and other sedans derived from hatchbacks, this Dzire is its own sedan. When you look at it from any angle, it doesn’t look like an afterthought by the Swift’s designers. The rear end is better thought out than the last generation and proportional with the front end. While the Swift and Dzire do look almost identical, the Dzire has more upscale touches than sporty to its trim, with a little bit more chrome, a different grille and different headlights. Interior   We like the dark interior motif. The dash, seats and everything else except the headliner is dark. Dark is ideal because it cuts down on the harsh glare on sunny days compared to a light or beige interior. It also looks cleaner and is less likely to show stains and smudges. It has a D-shaped racing-inspired steering wheel and sporty gauges which point straight down for zero. The Dzire has good head room for a car of its size. The second row seats have ample leg room and a sedan will always have more luggage space than its hatchback sibling. Amenities Usually, cars in this class don’t have much in the way of creature comforts for its rear passengers, but this car is different. Amenities for its rear passengers include a 120W 12V socket to charge gadgets, air conditioning vents, and a fold down center arm rest with two cup holders. AGS is cool Under the hood is an economical 1.2 liter four-cylinder gasoline engine which puts out 82hp at 6000rpm with 113Nm of torque at 4,200rpm. It’s mated to Suzuki’s Auto Gear Shift (AGS) transmission. This is one of our favorite features of the Dzire. This transmission offers the best of a manual transmission and an automatic transmission. You’ll notice the gear stick looks like an automatic, but has no P (Park). It has R (reverse), N (neutral), D (drive) and you can move it left (+/-) for the sequential manual mode. It also doesn’t have clutch pedal. But it’s NOT an automatic. AGS means it’s an automated manual transmission. Its Intelligent Shift Actuator disengages the clutch and shifts gears for you. It has all the fuel economy benefits and long term durability of a manual transmission, but the with convenience of an AT, giving you get the best of both worlds. And you can feel the positive engagement of the gear change and the response and grunt of a manual transmission. The best thing is, it’s like an automatic transmission when you’re caught in traffic, slowly releasing the brakes will allow the Dzire to slowly roll forward (or backward if you’re in reverse). Ride and handling Despite having the same wheelbase as the Swift, the extra length and weight over the rear end makes this car ride somewhat smoother than its shorter and lighter hatchback brother. The rear suspension feels a tad firm and is better able to carry more weight without bottoming out over speed bumps. This also makes it ideal for carrying passengers in the rear with luggage. The Dzire rolls on 15-inch 185/65 tires, which gives you more rubber between you and the road, translating into a considerably better ride than you’d get from 16-inch wheels. We like the Dzire because it’s practical, it meets the bottom line of this class of vehicle and you get a lot of extras. Most of all, our favorite is the AGS. Most A/T variants of cars in this class are priced a lot higher, while the AGS keeps this Suzuki below P700K, and about P90K more affordable than the Swift CVT. Text and photos by Neil Pagulayan